The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), effective since 2025, sets binding requirements for cyber resilience in the European financial sector. To meet these high security and compliance standards, established IT governance frameworks like COBIT are essential. Certain COBIT processes are especially important for effectively managing digital operational resilience and identifying risks early.
The most relevant COBIT processes for cyber resilience include:
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APO13 Managed Security: Systematic planning, implementation, and monitoring of all security controls to counter cyber threats and ensure DORA-compliant protection measures.
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DSS05 Managed Security Services: Continuous safeguarding of IT services, including monitoring, incident response, and IT service recovery to prevent operational failures.
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DSS04 Managed Continuity: Business continuity and disaster recovery management ensure the immediate restoration of critical systems after cyber incidents.
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BAI09 Managed Assets: Comprehensive management and transparent documentation of all IT assets, including patch and configuration management, are crucial for effective risk and resilience management.
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MEA03 Monitor, Evaluate and Assess Compliance: Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of compliance with cyber security and resilience requirements enable DORA-compliant audits.
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APO12 Managed Risk: Identification, management, and monitoring of cyber risks within a holistic risk management process.
Together, these processes form a robust foundation for financial institutions to strengthen their cyber resilience and comply with DORA’s operational requirements. The combination of preventive security measures, clear governance structures, and continuous monitoring is crucial for early detection and rapid response to threats.
